Entries for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht race close this Friday (11 July 2008 at 5pm) and already a healthy fleet of 64 yachts have entered the opening event of the CYCA’s 2008/09 offshore season and feeder race to regattas at Airlie Beach and Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.
“We are anticipating a fleet of approximately 70 entries which is similar to the size of last’s year’s fleet. This will be the 24th edition of the 384 nautical mile race which began in 1986.” said Vice Commodore Garry Linacre. The largest fleet ever to contest the annual race was in 1997 when 86 starters lined up on Sydney Harbour.
Wild Joe, owned by Steven David, has entered this year’s race and is on track to compete for her third successive overall race win on handicap. “Having competed in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race for a number of years, we were keen to come back again this year and try to see if we can re-write the history books and achieve a third successive overall win” said Steven David
Another entry for this year’s race north is Sanyo Maris, skippered by Ian Kiernan AO, founder of Clean Up Australia Day and joint owner of Sanyo Maris. Sanyo Maris is celebrating her 50th birthday this year, and is coming out of her retirement for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast and Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races. Maris has had a long ocean racing career including previous Sydney Gold Coast, Sydney Hobart and Lord Howe Island yacht races. “We are thrilled to have Sanyo Maris back racing in key blue water pointscore races organised by the CYCA.” said Tiare Tomaszewski, joint owner of Sanyo Maris and granddaughter of Jack Earl.
Wild Oats X has also entered and is in contention to repeat her line honours win of 2007. She will be skippered by Mark Richards, who also skippered Wild Oats XI to her three historic successive line honours wins in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (2005, 2006 and 2007).
With four new boats making their debut in this race, the Audi Sydney Gold Coast race is set for some dramatic racing. The 9 year old race record of 27 hours 35 minutes 03 seconds set by Brindabella in 1999 has tried to be bettered many a time but this year may just be the year with several new boats making the journey north.
Currently there are ten interstate entrants including six yachts from Victoria, and two from South Australia. Geoff Boettcher’s Secret Mens Business III will make her debut in this race having already made a long journey from SA and around the world just to make the start line.
The official start of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, will be at 1pm on Saturday 26 July. When the race concludes at the Gold Coast, boats will be welcomed by key local sponsor of the Southport Yacht Club, Audi Centre Gold Coast.
This event also marks the third event in the four part Audi IRC Australian Championship series that will be decided at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Now in its second year, the Audi IRC Australian Championship sees the winner drive home in a sporty Audi Q7 SUV, as well as an Australian Championship title.
The Notice of Race for the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht race is available at the official race website www.goldcoast.cyca.com.au. Entries close this Friday 11 July, 5pm.
